It was a towering header, for starters - and came directly from a set piece.

Yet, when Olivier Giroud nodded in Mezut Ozil’s 49th minute corner at the Liberty Stadium, Wenger was definitely not complaining.

Sure, he might have chosen a strike of far greater beauty and quality to notch up such a hefty milestone after 19 years at the N5 helm.

However, having never been too fussed about personal records, the only stat that really mattered yesterday was that Giroud’s seventh goal of the campaign put the north Londoners on course for a fifth straight league win.

Wenger said: “I'm always proud of my team scoring goals because that’s why the fans come to games - to see players play and entertain.

“But the most important part here was the three points because Swansea is always a difficult game.

**THE PREMIER LEAGUE'S SEXIEST WAGS**

Can you match these stunning WAGS with their Premier League partners?

How well do you know your wags? See if you can match these babes with their Premier League partners.

1 / 56

INSTAGRAM

She's a former Miss Iceland...

“We were edgy early on but in the second half upped our tempo and pace. Once we scored, we were the dominant team. And I’m pleased with the clean sheet.”

When asked about the 14-point advantage Arsenal hold over free-falling champions Chelsea, Wenger was less forthcoming.

“We do have a bit of lead over some teams but we need to keep a good balance between our hunger and humility."

Monk tried to remain upbeat even if fuming over the spot-kick controversy and Arsenal’s critical second being allowed to stand.

The Swans chief, whose side are 13th, moaned: “The Mertesacker handball is a penalty. Look at the replay, it’s intentional. He moves his hand towards the ball.

PA

MOBBED: Giroud and Mertesacker congratulate Koscielny

"And for their second goal it was a foul but the ref decided it wasn't.

“I’m disappointed to lose 3-0 and I feel for my players. It’s a hard one because we were the better team in the first half, creating chances and playing good football.“

Further efforts from Laurent Koscielny and Joel Campbell completed the second half rout and ensured the Gunners stay second in the table – behind leaders Manchester City only on goal difference.

Not a bad day’s work, then, against a Swansea side that had already taken the scalps of Chelsea and Liverpool this season - and conclusive proof that Arsenal are coping with their current injury crisis.

For now, that is. Next up on Wednesday comes a Champions League away date to Bayern Munich before an equally testing league trip to bitter rivals Tottenham a week today.

If Wenger was thrilled with this performance by his depleted outfit, Swansea counterpart Garry Monk will have been cursing his team’s misfortune.

GETTY

DELIGHTED: Joel Campbell celebrates

They gave as good as they got in the opening 45 minutes and went in at the break convinced they should have had a penalty for a blatant Per Mertesacker handball.

Ultimately, though, they were unable to sustain that level throughout – and looked decidedly second best come the final whistle.

Amazing to think that Arsenal, a side who were in danger of falling 11 points behind City when they crashed at Stamford Bridge in mid September, were only one point ahead of Swansea.

Yet six weeks later they were kicking off here peg level with Manuel Pellegrini’s men - and a stomping NINE points better off than the Welsh club!

That, of course, not only illustrated the visitors’ recent rapid resurgence but Swansea’s own slide – finally halted at Villa last weekend with a first league victory in six.

The much-needed result eased the pressure on their young manager’s shoulders - and no doubt gave him and his troops a genuine lift for this clash.

Monk, himself, was cautiously optimistic pre-match. Sure, he may have done the double over Wenger last season but he was equally aware Arsenal would be a different proposition this time. He was bang on.

With their annual injury crisis beginning to bite, Wenger had to shuffle his pack. Giroud, with five goals in his last six games, was a straight replacement for Theo Walcott, while winger Joel Campbell finally made his full league debut.

And it was the Costa Rican international, farmed out on loan for the majority of the last four years, who nearly opened the scoring yesterday in the 15th minute.

No more than a half chance, Campbell whipped in a first time left-foot, 20-yard shot that former Arsenal keeper Lukasz Fabianksi, in the home goal, was chuffed to see fly inches wide.

If the Gunners were unlucky there, it was the complete opposite eight minutes later when, at the other end, Jonjo Shelvey’s defence-splitting pass put Bafetimbi Gomis through with only Petr Cech to beat.

The Frenchman took the ball past the diving Gunners stopper before he went sprawling in the area - and in flew Hector Bellerin to clear the danger.

The incident brought the half to life. Seconds later Giroud missed a sitter. Then Cech denied Gomis and Shelvey headers in quick succession.

And in the 32nd minute the Gunners survived seriously strong penalty appeals as German defender Mertesacker blocked Gylfi Sigurdsson’s free-kick with an arm. The TV replays supported Swansea's howls of protest at the injustice.

If the first period was a mighty tight scrap, the second was pretty much one-way traffic once Giroud had broken the deadlock.

The much-maligned Gallic forward was also involved in Arsenal’s killer second in the 68th minute when he backed into Fabianksi. The ball fell loose and there was Koscielny to finish into an empty net. It was his second in as many games.

The Gunners could easily have taken their foot off the gas but Campbell had other ideas, coolly slotting in with 17 minutes left following Ozil and Alexis Sanchez’s classy exchange.